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WALKING MORE LIGHTLY –

A Climate-Change Action Kit for Churches

By Anne Martin, a Trustee of Christian Concern for One World and former Director of the Commitment for Life Programme of the U.R.C.

To view and download the resource go to http://www.ecocongregation.org select England and Wales, scroll down Latest News to New Church Resource Available.  The pack is also available for £4: there is an email link to Anne Martin on the web page.

It is reported that victims of train crashes experience a moment of detachment before the crash.  Our generation is in such an hiatus.  If climate change is about to change our world violently and perhaps permanently, what if anything, can we do?  The answer, as Anne Martin shows, is: ‘A lot!’  This is no longer an issue for environmental enthusiasts but for every individual, congregation, business, town and nation.

Do you want to help ‘kick-start’ your church into an effective response, but find the plethora of information daunting?  This Action Kit provides a succinct and direct Biblical-based approach.  Initially written with the U.R.C. in mind it is readily adaptable.

Global warming is not a disaster that has struck out of the blue-sky.  It is an urgent call to look at the world in a new way – or rather, to return to seeing ourselves both as part of Nature and as God’s stewards in treasuring Creation.

Christian Aid and Tearfund tell us about the poor communities that have contributed least to the problem but suffer most.  This is a question of justice.  Climate scientists now tell us that the world needs to cut back carbon emissions by around 80% by 2050 to have a reasonable chance of keeping temperature rise within 2 degrees celsius.  This is a daunting task, even for the U.K.  But how can we, as individuals, churches or country, make demands of others if we are not prepared to take a lead?

Anne Martin commends many practical steps to reduce our foot-print, as well as providing concise background information and liturgical resources.  She explains why ‘off-setting’ carbon dioxide is inadequate but states that we should be prepared to pay the environmental price for irreducible emissions.  One way is by supporting A Rocha’s Climate Stewards ‘off-set’ programme.

This Kit is more concerned with the beam in our own eye than with the substantial plank in our brother’s eye.  Rapid global action is essential, but the UK will have more credibility in promoting this if we have an effective track record.  But that depends on individuals and groups changing attitudes.  Anne quotes Noel Moules: ‘We are continually waiting for God, when all the time God and creation are waiting for us.’  There is a door of hope, but we are like the key.

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